Nagpur: Gondia SP Nikhil Pingale, post the raid and seizure of cash and valuables worth crores of rupees from the residence of international bookie Ananth Jain alias Sontu, has issued an advisory for the masses to stop falling prey to traps of fraud digital gaming, gambling and betting apps offering multiple options to lure people of different age groups and backgrounds.
The advisory, underlining the fact that Sontu alias Sontu Gondia has made a fortune worth crores from one such ‘doctored apps’, cautioned the masses that fraud gaming apps are programmed so that punters lose large sums and win small ones.
After raids and seizures at Sontu’s Gondia residence, CP Amitesh Kumar had first indicated that gaming apps are being doctored to cheat betters, punters and gamers.
Shortly after the raids at the residence of Sontu, a young punter, Neeraj Mankani, had died by suicide in Gondia following heavy losses on betting apps.
After a prolonged investigation, two bookies, Chirag Phunde and Abhijeet, were booked for abetment to suicide after Mankani’s mother lodged a complaint.
While Sontu made ‘Diamondexchange@com’, an app of a Dubai-based operator with Rajkot links, popular in Gondia and Nagpur, Mankani was betting on ‘Mahadeo app’, Reddy app and ‘Gajanan app’.
Pingale said the doctored apps are designed and programmed to rob punters. “The operators of these fraud apps hook a punter by allowing him to win initially and later start robbing him by tricking him to lose,” said the SP, adding, he now intends to seek help from Nagpur police’s cyber cell experts.
The Gondia police’s advisory highlights that fraud apps appear similar to platforms of branded and genuine firms. The apps offers various options to enjoy gaming, betting on cricket, football and other live sports, carom, pool, cards and so on to facilitate gambling.
Pingale said cyber teams are working to unearth rackets but awareness would at least help people stay away from these addictions.